Blue Mountains News

Blue Mountains Business Awards 2018 Winners Announced

Business of the Year recipient Louisa Forrest founder of Lavenderia NappyCare with award sponsor Philip Hammon, Scenic World. Photos by Brigitte Grant Photography

Last Friday night saw the annual Blue Mountains Business Awards held at a black tie event at the Fairmont Resort, Leura. Blue Mountains business people were out in their finest as they anxiously awaited the results. Over 350 businesses and individuals participated in this year’s awards, and many of them joined together to celebrate the finest businesses in the mountains.

The awards are run annually by the Blue Mountains Regional Business Chamber and the winners of 9 of the award categories automatically progress to the NSW Business Awards.

The evening commenced with pre-dinner drinks in the foyer and on the lawn as the heat of day dissipated and finalists began to relax and unwind. Guests were entertained by Allegra Dunning, a magnificent local singer songwriter who already has an impressive track record of live performances at just 10 years of age! Local dancers from LKM Dance Studios opened proceedings in the Grand Ballroom to the delight of the 250 guests.

Lawrence Atkinson from Trumans Chartered Accountants ably steered proceedings throughout the course of the evening as MC. Romola Hollywood attended as Alternate Deputy Mayor and provided the Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country. Lawrence Atkinson and Trish Doyle MP, State Member for the Blue Mountains both spoke on the theme for the evening, The Gift of Success, but it was the words of entertainer Neil Duncan from Three Handed Beat Bandits, who spoke of his devastation at losing his left arm to cancer and his journey back to play his beloved saxophone and other musical instruments, that brought tears to the eyes of his captivated audience.

Two handed John Stuart and single-handed Neil Duncan make up Three Handed Beat Bandits who provided the musical entertainment for the rest of the evening which saw dancers swinging on the dance floor until the end of the evening.

Blue Mountains Regional Business Chamber President Mark Barton was thrilled with how the night came together. "The Gift of Success was the theme for this year’s awards and as the President of the Chamber I can honestly say that the emotion in the room from the get go was electric."

"The importance of this event is to encourage and celebrate our Blue Mountains Businesses and to test themselves against their business plan. This then affords them the opportunity to see their strengths and weaknesses. They are then able to compare themselves with their peers by entering the Blue Mountains Awards process. This allows our businesses a yearly self-check and an opportunity to improve their efforts, making a strong and viable business while developing their growth."

"Our Harry Hammon winner this year Louisa Forrest of Lavenderia, told her story about an 8 year commitment, developing her business while being a single mum. Congratulations Louisa in taking out 4 awards on the night and all of our votes are with you in the State Business awards along with the other 11 winners on the 23rd of November. Clearly, your “Gift of Success” is your determination to succeed."

BlueMountainsAustralia.com was pleased to once again sponsor the People's Choice Award for 2018. The People's Choice Award is the only award where businesses are nominated for the award by their customers, rather than the business entering a submission. Any Blue Mountains business can be nominated for the award and anyone in the world can nominate a Blue Mountains business. This year's results were very close and we were honoured to not only hand an award to the winner, but also a Highly Commended to the runner up.

The 2018 winners are:

Excellence in Small Business Award sponsored by Trumans Chartered Accountants
Winner: Mountain Whispers

Harry Hammon Business of the Year sponsored by Scenic World
Winner: Lavenderia NappyCare

Lavenderia NappyCare had a highly successful night winning three award categories as well as the prestigious Harry Hammon Business of the Year award. Fresh Air Daily would like to wish every success to Lavenderia NappyCare, Balance Healthcare, Toolo Pty Ltd, Mountain Whispers, Kirinari Community Services, Murray's Glenbrook Cellars and Four36 at the NSW Business Awards.